Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige posts Woody’s Mailbag on Thursdays.
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Who does Mike Shanahan dislike more, the Raiders or the Broncos? Considering Shanahan’s hatred of Al Davis and the Raiders, it seems odd that he would help them in any way, let alone trade them quarterback Jason Campbell. Does that mean that Campbell is significantly worse than common perception paints him to be, or does it mean that Shanahan dislikes the Broncos so much now that he would help a former enemy in order to get back at us?
— Kelly Johnson, Arvada
Kelly: Shanahan doesn’t hate the Broncos. In the past year he has received over $7 million for doing nothing.
In fact, based on conversations I’ve had with Mike, he thinks that in retrospect, it was good for him to be out of football for a year. He spent a great deal of time studying new football concepts, other teams and rethinking his own philosophies.
I once took more than a year off when I was 40, and I returned to The Post refreshed and with the knowledge that this was what I wanted to do the rest of my while.
I think it would be good if all of us could back off for a while, although in this economy and life, it’s impossible for most, particularly to make $7 mil, or, in my case, about $30,000.
Shanahan will continue to live here in the offseason and hang out at the restaurant with his name on it. He told me Denver was home.
I think he was baffled at the beginning and then understood what had happened.
I don’t believe Mike thought he was giving the Oakland Raiders the keys to the kingdom with Campbell, and you have to remember that the general manager of the Redskins once held the same title with the Raiders, and he probably was responsible for the deal.
Mike is not dealing with running the whole show as he did in Denver. He is concentrating on coaching, which he should.
If The Post fires me tomorrow (which could happen) and pay me $7 million (which it won’t), I wouldn’t hate The Post, which hired me in 1981, for a moment.
And I’ve seen “Up in the Air” this week. Maybe you should.
Woody, first, a mailbag moment of silence for Keli McGregor, who, through his sheer will to succeed, made an indelible mark on the Colorado sports scene. He was one of the few people in sports that I can honestly say was a role model. Now, maybe it’s just me, but it seems that since Bud Selig has declared the steroids era over, a lot fewer baseballs are flying out of Coors Field. Is that a coincidence? I have a hard time believing that the humidor makes that much of a difference. Granted, Rockies pitching is a lot better, but still. I’m thinking the thin air of Denver got a bad rap.
— Anthony Vallejos, Los Alamos, N.M.
Anthony: Wrong. The thin air had a definite effect (7 percent) on the distance balls flew. It has been scientifically proved.
And the dryness of Colorado had an effect on the baseballs, which the pitchers couldn’t grip as well as they could anywhere else.
And the thin air does have an effect on the curveball.
I firmly feel that the Rockies have experienced an abnormal number of arm injuries over the years because of pitchers putting so much pressure on their arms to try to make the ball break.
Todd Helton has said the humidor turned him into a warning-track power hitter.
Steroids did have something to do with all those home runs, but I have absolutely no proof, and would tell you if I did, of any of the Rockies’ great home run hitters being on steroids.
Woody, I see that CU had no players drafted in this year’s NFL draft. At one time CU was known for the amount of players who went on to pro careers. Is this another sign of the coming apocalypse if CU sticks with Dan Hawkins?
— Marty, Fort Collins
Marty: I, too, noticed. For the longest time, CU was a fertile ground for offensive linemen and skill-position players (running backs, wide receivers, cornerbacks, safeties, several quarterbacks) and, of course, a stream of linebackers.
Yes, it’s a reflection on Dan Hawkins. He hasn’t recruited pro-caliber talent, for the most part.
I think you’ll see a few offensive linemen come out of this current bunch, and Tyler Polumbus did make it with the Broncos as a free agent.
Hawkins, as you know, had another mediocre recruiting class this year.
What else do you want me to say? Bill McCartney, Tricky Ricky Neuheisel and Gary Barnett did recruit pro players.
Mr. Paige, Do you think Carmelo Anthony will ever be able to add another consistent dimension besides scoring to his game? He shows flashes of being able to dominate the glass and I think he is inherently a good passer, but he is either reluctant or unable to add more to his game.
— Jamie Hosmer, Denver
Jamie: . LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are two of the best defenders and assist men in the league, and two of the best leaders.
Carmelo tried to lead more in the playoffs (without much success). He worked harder this year to rebound. But he still needs to be a five assist-a-game player because he’s double-teamed so much and must find the obvious open man.
And he has to spend at least a little time caring about defense.
A major player in the organization said to me: “Carmelo is so talented, but he is so one-dimensional, and there are nights when his offense won’t carry him or the Nuggets.”
Carmelo was a better player this year than a year ago. Now, if he wants to be higher than, what, fifth or sixth in the voting for most valuable players (he was considered the MVP at midseason) he has to complement his game.
And he really missed George Karl more than he thought he would.
Woody, I love your columns and also truly enjoy “Around the Horn.” I know we’re on the same page when it comes to the no-huddle offense in Denver. Why don’t the Broncos take advantage of the fact that they play at altitude — an environment where visiting players gasp for air after only a few minutes? Why don’t we keep tired defensive players on the field and not allow substitutions late in the game by employing the no-huddle? Does coach Joshs McDaniels have any plans to use this strategy? If not, why?
— Dave Weimer, Chipita Park
Dave: I’ve asked Josh about the no-huddle, hurry-up. He promised he would use it some last season, but didn’t really except in situations at the end of a half and when the Broncos were way behind in the fourth quarter.
I think you’ll see a lot more of it this year since Josh considers he has the (new) personnel to do so, unlike last year.
I see a lot of people saying that Kyle Orton was quite good last year. However, I’m worried that without Brandon Marshall, he won’t be nearly as productive. I mean a quick look at the ball distribution last season is scary. What do you think?
— Jeremy, South Korea
Jeremy: Orton was not quite good last year. He was mediocre, as he has always been.
You’re assuming Orton will be the quarterback this year. Orton relied too much on Marshall last year and totally forgot that Eddie Royal was on the field.
Why is Jarvis Moss still on the Broncos? He only suited up for a few games a year ago. Do the coaches see “potential” in him as a late bloomer? What gives?
— Larry Smith, Phoenix
Larry: I would guess that Moss and Marcus Thomas will be gone this year, to join most of the others from the Mike Shanahan era. They just haven’t come up big.
In a conversation with Josh McDaniels, I brought up that he’ll probably only have eight starters who are left from before he got here, and he mentioned that it’s maybe 18 or 19 players overall.
He feels the Broncos going into this season will have competitive situations at every position, unlike last season. He specifically mentioned the offensive line, wide receivers and cornerbacks.
He didn’t indicate, but I don’t believe those two will last past training camp (although they will be brought in, in case of injury, and have one last chance here to prove themselves.)
Nobody is beating down the door to get either one. Those two should realize that.
Hi, Woody. Do you think the possibility exists that John Elway could be the Broncos’ owner when Pat Bowlen decides to retire?
— Ed, Grand Junction
Ed: Bowlen will never retire. Retire from what? Retire from a life he loves? It’s not as if Bowlen is working on an assembly line.
He has a coach, a general manager, a CEO and a bunch of other people running the franchise. Bowlen oversees it all, and waits for another Super Bowl.
Bowlen always has told me he will never sell, will never quit. He does hope that one of his children eventually will take over when he dies.
I do have a proposal for Bowlen and told McDaniels about this:
In the grand entrance room of Broncos headquarters, there are banners hanging from the ceiling to signify the Broncos’ championships.
In a corner of the room is a glass-enclosed trophy case holding the two Vince Lombardi Trophies. The case is only big enough for the two.
The Broncos should get a bigger case, just in case. At least, have hopes that there will be a third.
While I sat there the other day, I thought that it’s almost as if the Broncos never thought they would win another one. Get on it, Pat.
I think it’s possible that Elway will become involved with the team again now that Shanahan is gone, but not as the owner.
McDaniels and Elway have met recently, talked, plan to play golf together this summer and talk often.
John is on board with the Tim Tebow selection, and when Tebow told me he hadn’t met John, I tried to arrange a meeting at Elway’s restaurant, but he was in California.
Josh and John get along, and I think you’ll see John at camp and maybe even helping the younger quarterbacks during the offseason. Cutler and Orton had and have no interest in being around Elway, or he around them.
Woody Paige first joined The Denver Post in 1981 as a sports columnist. , or .
